Morning all.
Can we expect to see a quadruple of exits over the next ten days?
Jakub Kiwior was left out of Saturday’s Premier League squad which has increased his exit rumours. Wolverhampton Wanderers are interested in not only interested in signing Aaron Ramsdale but are in talks to do so. Eddie Nketiah could move to Nottingham Forest as they too are in talks with Arsenal and lastly, Reiss Nelson is still wanted by Leicester City.
Espanyol’s 23-year-old Joan Garcia is still lined up as a replacement for Ramsdale and of course, the Mikel Merino saga is still dragging on although according to reports, a fee has finally been agreed.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal have already reached verbal agreement with Spanish GK Joan García on personal terms. He’s the priority target for Arsenal to replace Aaron Ramsdale if he leaves in final 10 days. Espanyol are aware of #AFC interest but no official bid yet, depends on Ramsdale.
Can we expect a flurry of incomings?
On Saturday, Mikel Arteta’s substitute bench looked like this:
Ramsdale, Calafiori, Timber, Jorginho, Nelson, Nwaneri, Trossard, Jesus, Nketiah.
Three of the substitutes could in theory be gone by the end of the transfer window and if they are, including Emile Smith Rowe, Arsenal will have sold three attacking players. Surely the club has something planned to bolster our attack? Regardless of you and I might think of Vieira, it seems his slight body struggles to say fit. Martinelli and Jesus often breakdown too at some stage of a season.
Talking of players breaking down, Kieran Tierney is still at the club and listed in the squad so unless he’s set to stay, he’s another move we could expect to go through in the next ten days.
As much as we wish Arsenal would be more speedy with its transfers, other clubs are haggling over theirs too, especially when it involves our own players. So far, only Fulham and Sturm Graz have actually agreed to buy one of our players outright as the rest are loans with an option or obligation to sign next summer. I guess the nearer we get to deadline day, every club is hoping their targets will be cheaper. Especially the players who clubs ‘have’ to move on.
I think Arsenal are quite fortunate really because none of our players have to be moved on, not as far as numbers go anyway. They probably hope to move on because it’s not like any one of Nelson, Nketiah, Ramsdale, Tierney or Kiwior are going to find themselves in the first eleven any time soon. The best they can realistically hope for is a domestic cup run but even that’s doubtful as Arteta seems to like fielding a strong eleven.
According to financial expert Stefan Borson, money isn’t the reason Arsenal haven’t been busy this summer.
Talking to Football Insider:
Arsenal and Liverpool in particular, are clubs whose spending you can assume is strategic as opposed to being PSR related. They have very large PSR surpluses because they have effectively been well run for a number of years.
Interestingly, Liverpool and Arsenal, along with Man City have been the quietest this summer as far as player signings go. Hardly surprising as far as Arsenal goes as this current management team has been building a strong squad for a number of years now. The squad only needed tweaking rather than the kind of mass changes we’ve seen since Mikel Arteta arrived at the club five years ago. Arsenal has bolstered the defence with Calafiori and Timber will be like a new signing too but I do think we still lack something up front, or rather someone. Someone to give the team something different. Someone to surprise the opposition.
Whether we sign that someone though is something only the next ten days will tell.
Catch up in the comments.
Good morning Rico if, as reports suggest, agreement with Real Sociedad has been reached on the Merino deal there could be another name on the departure board, that of Thomas Partey although his wages may be a problem for his future club.
Morning Cicero, I did wonder about Partey but there’s nothing about him moving anywhere. That’s not to say he won’t move..
Depends on the domestic cups I guess and how Arteta will approach them as far as team selection goes.
Regarding the ” forward ” it’s really all about Arteta’s formula and the style that he wants to play . Any forward that comes knows that he is a last resort and good ones dont come for a 20 minute stint once every 3 weeks .
Had we got Sesko he fitted that profile being young and keen to prove his worth but happy to grow into importance . Going for a Toney type would mean a complete shake up and I do nt think that is in Arteta’s plans .
Good morning everyone and all
Gyokeres is 26. still at the right age for Arteta’s vision. Plus his playing style fits in as well. Its just the fee that they are asking is a tad high.
I dont think that if Arteta brings in a CF he will play every three weeks and as a sub for 20 mins or so. With the CL as its going to be and the league and cups I can assure you that if Arteta rotates he will get plenty time.
If we get a CF we wont get a winger. If we get a winger we wont get a CF. so its simple….a midfielder (Merino) and ONE of CF/Winger. and then we will not do business in January but only after June 2025. Unless something drastic happens.
The operative phrase being “if Arteta rotates”.
Morning Rico and all.
Going by reports on the internet Arteta has said he is not interested in getting a striker as he feel the ones we have are good enouth.
by the sounds of things he only wants to bring in Merino and that he has a gentlemans agreement with another Keeper and his club that he will buy him if the can move Ramsdale on.
Agreed Potter, but surely we need someone on the right to allow Saka a breather.. unless that is going to be Vieira and/or Jesus. Neither who fill me with great hope.
Logic suggests that if both Nelson and Nketiah leave, one player is likely to replace them.
Morning Geoff.
Exactly Cicero but if he has players we assume he trusts, in theory rotation should be more frequent.
Michael Oliver has been appointed referee for Arsenal’s trip to face Aston Villa on Saturday, with Peter Bankes on VAR
Best of a bad bunch then…
Going by the Metro the Marino deal is still a few million difference between what they want and what we want to pay. If it’s true it sounds like double standards to me, Arteta and edu want full asking price for Our players but want other clubs to drop there price for there players.
If we sell cheap we can’t afford to buy quality. Simple business sense.
Geoff, Merino is 28 and into his last year of contract. Our players are younger and still have a few years on their contracts. That’s the difference…
Morning all,
Edu has a very difficult balancing act. I heard Steve Parish of Crystal Palace talking tough,saying his players won’t be sold until the club’s valuation is met. Which is all very well,the danger is you end up with another Wilfred Zaha,they were willing to sell about 2 years ago but valued him at £100m,he ended up leaving for free,they probably could have got 50/60m.
It’s a minefield for selling club’s. A lot of these deals will probably end up being done late. Thinking about it,it would be fairer if the transfer window closed before the season starts.
Morning all.
I agree re the transfer window. It’s ridiculous to have it open once the season begins as it’s not fair on players or clubs who sell on deadline day because an offer is too good to turn down.
Good morning Highbury Houselanders
I have been an advocate of the summer transfer window ONLY for quite a long time. Even in the times when you could buy a player anytime you want. and tbh I would love to have the January transfer window abolished as well.
As Limey and Rico pointed out the transfer window should end before the season begins. I mean, having around two months should be enough time frame to get deals done. Lets say transfer window opens 15 June and closes 15 August. If there is the Euro and the WC hard luck. Business should have been done ASAP.
And no Geoff its not double standard. Ask any businessman and you will see that he will try to get in as much as possible for sales but try to buy at a lesser price. That is called profit and sustainability. So yes I would hold out for at ;least 35million for Nketiah but try to buy his replacement for 25million although his club value him at 35 million.
Devil, I’d be in favour of the transfer window opening after the final fixture of the season, the CL final and closing before the first competitive fixture of the season. Two full months should be enough…
I bet Conor Gallagher is glad to be out of Chelsea.
Devil, The way I do buisness is simple, I set a price and if you tried to bargain I would should you were the door is.
I see there are reports that Eddie has declined to take a paycut from any new club that wants him.
Fabrizio Romano has tweeted that Merino left out of training and move to Arsenal is imminent.
I’m so bored with this story now. Lol
David Ornstein
@David_Ornstein
·
1h
🚨 EXCL: Nottingham Forest close to agreeing fee with Arsenal for Eddie Nketiah. #NFFC also progressing talks over 25yo’s personal terms – top striker candidate. Negotiations continue after £25m offer rejected; #AFC want more towards £30/35m
@TheAthleticFC
The thing is, the bid from Forest might be quoted as £25m or £30m of whatever, but how much of it is add-ons etc.
Reports is the Head of Merino current club is in England to try and finish the deal so both clubs and player can move on.
Patino to Deportivo apparently…
Rico, going by some report 1Million for Patino sound very cheap to me
He into his last year of contract Geoff and has hardly set the world alight whilst out on loan. I read there’s a sell on clause included..
Sterling on loan anyone?? 😂😂
Quick question for JM. Wife and I are looking for a quick break in September , looking to fly into Faro but want to by pass Albufiera and theAlgarve is their anywhere that two 75 year olds that don’t act their age although don’t start fights either might enjoy .
I was against Sterling, but if they pay part of his salary?
Someone said a while ago that the return of Martinez to Arsenal would be a good thing, no chance of it happening now as he has signed a new long term contract with Villa.
Sterling might be an option if we get him for free and he’s happy with £100 k a week. Otherwise no, thanks very much.
Sterling or no one, Sterling.
I’d like to think though that if the intention was to sign a winger, there would have been a plan rather than player who has pretty much been told to leave by Chelsea.
I watched quite a bit of Swansea last season and both Sagoe Junior and Patino were majorly disappointing, but of course those with an axe to grind will use this news to attack the club but I think moving Charlie on makes perfect sense.
Sterling isn’t going to be a game changer for us or anyone,
he’s a big money,
going-through-the-motions,
herbert who’ll stink the place out.
Not for me!
Totally agree with selling Patino, and anyone who Arteta doesnot want/need, but I thought we may have got 3 to 5 mill but if he is struggling then 1 mill sound ok to get off our books.
Surely Arsenal aren’t really bidding for Lookman, I so hope that that is a load of cobblers.
Ha ha Kev, I reckon he’ll go to Liverpool..
New post up now.